Marine Hull Trailering Trajectory Prediction for Trailer Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual trailering of marine vessels is challenging due to the unpredictable behavior of hulls in response to steering, making it difficult for inexperienced operators to accurately predict how the hull turns and load it onto a trailer.
Innovation Solution
A trailering support device equipped with controllers to acquire characteristic information on hull turning radius and relative position, detect steering angles, predict future movement, and generate a predicted trajectory for loading onto a trailer, providing visual notification to the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual trailering is performed without assistance, then the operator has full control over the hull, but it is difficult for inexperienced operators to accurately predict how the hull turns and load it onto the trailer
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously detects the actual hull position and orientation using sensors (GPS, compass, accelerometer) and compares it with the predicted trajectory. This feedback loop allows the system to update and refine the prediction model in real-time, improving accuracy while maintaining ease of operation through automated assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the operator's steering input and the actual hull movement. It processes the steering angle information, combines it with characteristic information about the specific hull's behavior, and generates a predicted trajectory that mediates between the operator's intentions and the hull's actual response, making the system easier to operate while maintaining prediction accuracy.
2Extent of automation
If automatic trailering control is implemented, then the hull can be loaded onto the trailer automatically, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed to support multiple operation modes (manual trailering with prediction assistance, semi-automatic mode, and fully automatic mode) within a single system. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide automated control when needed while maintaining simpler operation for experienced users, balancing automation benefits with system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating the predicted trajectory based on the hull's characteristic information and current state before the actual maneuver is executed. This allows the operator to see the expected path in advance and make informed decisions, reducing the need for complex real-time control algorithms while still providing automated assistance.
3Loss of information
If the system provides detailed predicted trajectory information, then the operator can make more accurate steering decisions, but the information processing requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides partial prediction information by displaying only the most relevant aspects of the predicted trajectory (such as the immediate future path and key waypoints) rather than complete detailed information. This reduces the computational burden and energy consumption while still providing sufficient information for the operator to make accurate steering decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailering support device able to load a hull onto a trailer includes one or more controllers configured or programmed to acquire characteristic information indicating a relationship between a steering angle of the hull and a turning radius of the hull; acquire relative position information between the trailer and the hull; detect the steering angle of the hull; predict future movement of the hull based on the acquired characteristic information, the acquired relative position information, and the detected steering angle; generate a predicted trajectory; and provide notification of a positional relationship between the hull and the trailer and provide notification of the generated predicted trajectory.